The middle-aged man clad in purple robes gave a dignified smile as he said, "Welcome, Alchemist Azrael. I am Herwin Clive, the Patriarch of the Clive Family, and this is Harvey Rivers, Patriarch of the Rivers Family. We have been expecting you. Please, have a seat."
They also greeted Falko and were slightly surprised that Leon Xeton sent his personal disciple to accompany Damien and Valentina.
They thought that probably Leon Xeton was serious about this meeting and felt that they had to be extra careful not to say or do anything that could offend him as Falko would be witnessing everything here.
They felt that Leon Xeton must value Damien very much as expected.
They all sat down, and the women, as if coming to a consensus, occasionally looked at Valentina with hostile gazes.
Valentina didn't get intimidated and glared back at them blatantly, especially at Dennisa Rivers.
Dennisa Rivers wrinkled her nose as she turned her head away with a snort. For some reason, she wasn't able to keep up with Valentina's glare.
"Alchemist Azrael, I believe you wanted to meet with us because of some slight quarrel between our children and your disciple, I presume?" Herwin Clive formally asked as he sipped his tea in a stately manner.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Harvey Rivers looked at Damien with an observant gaze, anticipating his response. The two thought that Damien proposed to meet them because he was afraid to offend them or something similar in those lines.
Having such thoughts, they felt even more proud of their status and power and how it even shook the most talented alchemist to approach them first to settle things.
Damien sighed and nodded, "I believe there have been some misunderstandings between the youngsters, and it's not good for any one of us to let them continue to study in the same school while maintaining a toxic relationship. Don't you think so?"
Hearing Damien's response, Herwin and Harvey were now fully confident that they could see where this was going. They couldn't be more pleased inwardly, seeing that they were holding the advantage here.
Harvey laughed, "Haha, youngsters these days are very hot-blooded. They easily get into quarrels and fights. It's quite natural. I say we don't have to take the upcoming challenge between them too seriously. I am sure my daughter, Dennisa, would be pleased to give a few pointers to your talented disciple in a friendly spar. I am sure your strong-willed and gifted disciple would not shy away from these spars considering how she challenged Dennisa."
Herwin chimed in smoothly, "Yes, of course. I have to admit that your disciple's friend is truly talented, and I am sure he can learn something when he spars with my son. Isn't that right, Roy?"
Roy Clive said with a veiled smile, "Of course, father. Even though he tried to humiliate me in front of everyone, I, as his senior, already decided to forgive him. And for our upcoming spar, as his dutiful senior brother, I will give him some tips that he will never forget."
The father and son exchanged a meaningful glance as they smirked inwardly.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Dennisa Rivers looked at Valentina with contempt and disdain. She was thinking how she should whip her exquisite face so much that not even Damien would want her as a girlfriend anymore.
Damien could see what the patriarchs were trying to do. They very neatly and politely implied that the spars wouldn't be canceled unless Damien wanted to admit that Valentina was scared and inferior.
He knew that these two crafty patriarchs were trying to make themselves clear before Damien proposed to cancel the challenge in fear of Valentina's reputation and safety. They both knew how heavy-handed Dennisa could be and had no qualms about the challenge.
Recently the popularity of their heirs was being overshadowed by Valentina and Damien's brilliance, and they thought that this challenge was a nice opportunity to show everyone what happens if anyone tries to offend their families. And at the same time, they could let their heirs show off their remarkable prowess.
Herwin was already pissed off that a weakling from the Rong Empire dared to humiliate his son. Harvey was feeling no different, seeing how Damien even dared to call his beautiful daughter an ugly bitch.
However, they both thought that the upcoming challenges were a godsend, and they felt like thanking Damien for sealing his own fate.
Damien inwardly scoffed as he could see what the idiots in front of him were thinking.
He already decided to play along and said, "Of course, I believe the friendly spar would also give my disciple a chance to learn some few things and better herself. And if the spar goes all too well, I would be glad to bestow your heirs with a Supreme Tier Pill that is not even available in the market yet. Consider it a gift to mark our healthy relations."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Herwin and Harvey's expressions changed when they heard Damien's words. But inwardly, they laughed, thinking that things were going just as they had expected.
The ears of the others perked when they heard Damien's words. They knew how valuable Supreme Tier Pills were and their potency. And when they heard that those pills weren't in the market, they were even more eager to obtain one.
Dennisa Rivers and Roy Clive, for a moment, forgot about the challenge and started dreaming what amazing pill Damien could possibly offer.
They all could see the Rank 5 badge on Damien's clock and realized that Damien had only recently upgraded to Rank 5.
Herwin and Harvey thought that Damien was trying to bribe them so that they would see to that Valentina does not get hurt during the spar.
They couldn't be happier and had decided to meet Damien with hopes of Damien offering something like this.
At first, they were surprised why someone like Damien with such an exalted status would bow down to them first.
But then they thought that Damien probably didn't want to offend their powerful families as he might need their influence in the future.
Damien added, "Oh, also one more thing. I know my disciple has been spending too much time with that wastrel from the Rong Empire. I admit his talent is superb, but what's the use without having a powerful backer. Who knows, he might get assassinated in broad daylight, and no one would even care to ask what or who killed him. Because of how much I care about my disciple's future, I had to admonish her not to spend time with him." Damien let out a disappointed sigh as he took a glance at Valentina.
Valentina lowered her head as if she didn't dare to make eye contact with Damien.
All six of them were surprised by the turn of events. They thought that Damien was here in support of Damien and Valentina. But it seems like, as expected, the master was disappointed in his disciple for having an affair with someone of no status.
At first, they thought that Alchemist Azrael, no matter how surprising, supported Valentina and Damien's relationship since they were spending time together all these days.
But now, they thought that they misunderstood things and made more sense how Alchemist Azrael disapproved of Valentina's relationship with Damien.
Damien went on, "But my disciple is too stubborn, and finally we decided to come to an agreement. I told her that she should date the winner of the match between Damien and Roy. Only that way could I be convinced that my disciple gets the best. And for some reason, if she refuses to follow the agreement, I told her that she would be forbidden from having any relations with anyone at all. Even I would prefer that she pursues the Ethereal Way alone and reach the peak. Love and these feelings are merely a distraction that impedes our own journey in pursuing the Ethereal Way."
Herwin's expression lit up when he heard Damien's words. He even felt jealous of his own son as he knew that his son's victory was in the bag and even got the opportunity to obtain the most beautiful girl in the continent as well.
Valentina bit her lip, hearing Damien's words, and clenched her fists.
Roy Clive's mother, Rumi Clive, had a haughty smirk on her face as she looked at Valentina's dejected face.
She was already pissed off that Valentina dared to reject her most favorite and genius son.
She had never seen Roy Clive ever having a problem getting the girl he wants. This was the first time Roy complained to her that he got humiliated by a girl, no less.
She couldn't wait to see her son to conquer the proud and aloof beauty in front of her and vent her jealousy on Valentina.
